Motorway "Rip-off" stations...

nearlyrich

I must agree about the prices and the appalling quality of the food on motorway services, Tesco and other supermarkets offer much better value.

I drive about 1000 miles per week and I only stop for the loo and the odd latte if I need a caffeine fix.

I have used the Tesco book since they started printing them and I know quite a lot about where their stores are just off my regular routes. They sell petrol as cheap or cheaper then most places ( Even in Weybridge which is one of my regular trips). Good food at reasonable prices, decent hot drinks and best of all clubcard points too!!

VelvetGlove

Why are they so expensive? The simple economic rule of supply and demand Since people are willing to pay the prices that are charged then they will continue to charge the high prices.

I do a heck of a lot of travelling for my job, I'm away from home every week & the odd times I've stopped off in the services for a trip to the loo I've seen hoards of people buying the stuff sold at these places and they don't seem to bat an eyelid!

How do they get away with it? Again, as long as people are willing to pay through the nose for something then they will keep charging high prices.

I have used the 5 mins away website & it is brilliant! I have a Tesco booklet as well, although I don't tend to buy food at services I find this extra knowledge handy if you are stuck in traffic & you know the nearest services is miles away (through the jam!) and you really need to pee! Has saved me many a puddle being able to pull off at any junction & find somewhere to go!

cheesy_mike

5 Minutes Away is not very good is it?

Example: M5 J21 Petrol. Does not list Sainsbury supermarket which has the cheapest petrol in Weston Super Mare and is only 800 yds from the motorway. It does however list Locking Service Station which (on September 10th) was charging 87.9 for unleaded - 7p more than most other stations and 1p/litre more than Sedgemoor services just south of J21.

Mike

16011996

i always pull off motorway to find somewhere sine nasty bout of food poisoning from service station. the 5 min site is good, but doesn't always list everything i've found, but certainly points you in the right direction.

chowster

Just to add "fuel" to this one... !!

One of the reasons they might be able to get away with this is that when people travel quite often they are doing it on business.

When I have to travel with work I don't take too much notic of how much I spend as I get it all back anway through expenses. Now im not saying im wasteful with my own money...definetly not...! but when it comes to the companies..?  :o  ...think this might be the reason there are so many people at these rip off places..........

16011996

mmm, hadn't thought of that. i guess if you're not picking up the bill yourself you are less bothered. and i suppose a lot of people just stop to use loo's and don't actually contribute to them so they have to make money somewhere.

pedro3uk

If travelling North of Lancaster come off at junction 35 on M6 and use Truckhaven. Its not just for trucks, its clean, modern and what's more serves good food at reasonable prices. It is signed now but don't be put off by the name.

Westmorland Services is also probably the best motorway service area in the country. However, it is no cheaper but a million miles away from some of the horrible urban service areas down south.

16011996

thanks for that, off to cumbria sunday, so will have a look for that.

poochel

According to my mum ( who is the fount of all wisdom...or likes to think she is!) service stations- or at least the toilets- are required by law to be open 24hours a day. therefore the service stations hike up their prices to cover their costs...plus they have a captive market. not for much longer though, thanks to sites like these-will definitely use the 5 mins away in future!

Greyhound_Man

I had to spend a night at Westmoreland Services when our camper kept breaking down. I didn't mind giving my money to them for a fry up, as it is the local community pulling togerther to fight off the big companies. It is a really lovely view out the back of the restaurant .

Really love the idea of going to Ikea as a service station, particularly with kids! That's why I love this site ;D

I get so annoyed with prices at these places (particularly petrol). I know they have a lot of people coming in and not spending a penny but just spending a penny (if you see what I mean!), but it is not as if they have poor transport links pushing up the cost of getting all the goods there!!!!

Anyone know how 5minutes away works - do companies pay to go on there? It says to mention the website if you visit, so I wondered how it worked.